Re: [Harp-L] Alan Wilson

[tacopescado@xxxxxxxxxxx]

I have to concur on Alan Wilson. He is arguably (in my mind) my  
favorite blues harmonica player this side of Little Walter. His tone,  
phrasing and technique is above reproach. He died at the ripe young  
age of 27 and it's a shame he didn't have the chance to share with us  
his prowess as he became older, more experienced and more musically  
aware. Like Rob, I also have all the LP's including a few that Pete  
didn't mention including "Living The Blues" and "Live In Europe"  
among others. The latter is mostly a throw away but the former is a  
jewel. It includes Rob's mentioning of "Parthenogenesis."  
Parthenogenesis is a medley that includes "Five Owls" that has Alan  
Wilson overdubbing five harmonica parts on one track. Another gem is  
"Huautla" from Hallelujah. After more than 35 years I still  
appreciate his version of Sonny Boy II's "Help Me." When I was in  
college I was in a band that played Canned Heat's version of Jimmy  
Rogers' "Walking By Myself" where the bass and the harp play the same  
line into the harp solo. I wish there was more.

I had never heard the suicide thing before. I'd always heard the it  
was a booze and barbiturates accident.

Taco in Baja


On Dec 16, 2010, at 7:02 AM, Rob Paparozzi wrote:

> Thank You Pete,
>
> This was nice to read and terrific to spend some time on harp-l  
> talking about such a monumental Blues Figure from the sixties that  
> never got enough attention.
>
> There is much to be learned from listening to to Alan's work and I  
> own all those LP's and always enjoyed playing along as I was coming  
> up on years ago on the harp.
>
> My favorite Owl song I loved to play on gigs years ago was  
> "Parthenogenesis"...like Butterfield & Musselwhite, Owl was always  
> looking for ways to present a classic art form in some new  
> 'wrappings' for a Rock Generation to listen to...it worked!
>
>
> That is why Muddy & Hooker had tremendous respect for these men who  
> carried the torch to keep the Blues alive for the next generation
>
> Long Live his Music and Spirit,
> Rob Paparozzi
> www.robpaparozzi.com
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <the_jukester@xxxxxxxx>
> To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 11:41 PM
> Subject: [Harp-L] Alan Wilson
>
>
>     There have been few references to Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson's  
> harp playing in recent postings, so I thought I would take this  
> opportunity to reintroduce his legacy to the forum. While not as  
> much of a household name as Paul Butterfield, Rod Piazza, or other  
> younger players who first came to prominence in the "blues revival"  
> days of the Sixties, Alan was one of the most soulful harp players  
> of this era. In addition to having great tone, a wide vocabulary of  
> licks, and extraordinary arranging ability, he was also an  
> accomplished guitarist and piano player. A real scholar of the  
> blues, he was extremely knowledgeable about a musical form that was  
> unknown to most people of his age and cultural background. When  
> interviewed by Pete Welding for Down Beat magazine in the late  
> Sixties, he proved to be extremely well versed in the historical  
> development of the blues and the range of styles by the artists who  
> performed it, dating back to the earliest days of blues  
> recording........<snip>
>
> Pete Sheridan
> www.petesheridan.net
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> Refinance Rates at 2.8%
> $160,000 Mortgage $434/mo. No Hidden Fees- 3.1% APR! Get a Free Quote
> http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4d0998e551d9a73a008st03vuc